Chapter 2

Olivia's POV

I thought about brewing that herbal tonic for Sonya. She looked so weak and banged up—I figured I'd make it and bring it over.

But every step I took, my knees buckled. Almost dropped twice.

A dull, gnawing pain kept clawing at my lower abdomen, like something was ripping me apart from the inside.

By the time I got home, I was completely drained. Couldn't move an inch.

Cold sweat poured down my forehead. My face was white as bone. I couldn't hold out any longer—I dragged myself to the bedroom and collapsed, not even able to take the medicine the healer gave me.

I wanted to rest.

Just a moment to let the dizziness pass, and then I'd bring the herbs over.

But I never got back up. I lay there clutching my stomach, the pain swallowing me whole until I blacked out.

In the haze, I drifted back to the beginning with Luke.

We did have good times once.

We were fated mates—one hundred percent compatible.

The first time we met, our wolves screamed that we belonged to each other. No one else.

Luke marked me that same day. Announced me to the entire pack.

But back then, the Silvermoon wolves rejected me. They didn't want an Omega as their Luna.

Luke stood in front of me and shut them all down: "She's my fated mate. The only Luna of Silvermoon Pack."

He fought everyone for me. Kept me by his side. Spoiled me rotten, day after day.

In those early days, I was still that weak, useless Omega.

But he surrounded me with his pheromones every second, calming my anxious heart.

When nightmares jolted me awake, he'd hold me and soothe me.

When I scraped my hand—barely a scratch, something that would've healed on its own—he'd still call for the healer in a panic.

I leaned on him for everything back then. And he loved it.

Then the rogues beyond the border started banding together, clawing for pack territory.

Luke stopped being gentle.

He pushed me to train, to get stronger. Wanted me to be a Luna who could protect the pack.

He used to love how much I needed him. Now when he saw it, he'd just frown and say:

"Olivia, you're the Luna. You should be able to protect our people. You can't hide behind me forever."

Eventually, Sonya was sent to us. Luke made her my teacher.

I trained like hell so I wouldn't disappoint him.

But an Omega's body can't unleash an Alpha's power. I trained until my wrists dislocated and still could barely take down the lowest-level rogue.

Never mind actual combat—I froze at the sight of them.

Luke took one look and said, "Sonya's been teaching you for this long, and this is still where you're at?"

"How can someone so weak ever be a proper Luna?"

When I first started managing the pack, I was terrified of making the wrong call and screwing everyone over. So I ran everything by him first.

Just like I always had.

But every time, he'd say: "You need to figure these things out on your own. Am I supposed to sign off on every single decision? A Luna has to be able to think independently."

I walked on eggshells, grinding day and night, terrified of slipping up.

And when I did make a mistake, he'd rub his temples and say in that exhausted voice:

"Olivia. When are you finally going to become a real Luna?"

But now? I didn't want to be his version of a real Luna anymore.

I dreamed of what happened a few days ago.

Urgent word came from the border—a small group of rogues had slipped past the northern defenses.

Luke wasn't around. And I thought—I'm the Luna of Silvermoon Pack. Protecting our people is my job.

I wanted to be stronger, like Luke wanted. I wanted to be independent. Wanted to deserve standing beside him. So I went with our warriors.

When a rogue's claws ripped across my chest, I didn't flinch. All I cared about was keeping him from hurting the pack members behind me.

Back then, I actually thought—maybe after this, Luke would be proud. Maybe he'd finally see me as a worthy Luna.

But I didn't see the other rogue coming from the side. His claws drove straight into my gut.

Blood poured out of me. And I felt something inside slipping away.

I didn't know I was carrying a pup then.

I thought it was just a regular wound.

Until the healer told me. My pup was gone.

I reached out through the mind-link, my voice shaking:

"Luke... I need to tell you something—"

He cut me off before I could finish.

"Olivia, can't you handle anything on your own? Do you have any idea how much I have on my plate? Can you try to be more like Sonya—independent, strong—and deal with your own little problems?"

And then he severed the link.

My problems were just little things to him.

A laugh escaped me. But tears rolled down my face anyway.

That was the moment. The moment my heart—the one that had loved him for years—finally shattered.

Three years of being his Luna had worn me down to nothing.

I don't want to chase after him anymore. Don't want to stand beside him anymore.

I'm done being his Luna.

After the surgery, Luke and I are done. For good.